Crate



y 8, 1951 c. w. GRIFFITH 2,552,007

cam:

Filed March 15, 1948 24" I3 lo 6 24 INVENTOR. GHAI'PLES W GRIFFITH Patented May 8, 1951 U N l T ED S TATES FRATENT fO- F FI CE CRATE Charles W. Griffith-Baltimore; Md.

Application March'15, 1948, Serial No.14,929

The present invention relates to an improved crate and in particular. to. one. thatmay be folded, or knocked downywhennot'in use.

.iIhe special features of' the" preferred form of the invention being that theicrate is provide'd with a ventilated-topand endesections, and a fiber or canvas side wall section which allows the crate to-be folded into a verysmall space.

Theprimary-object-of the invention is tojprovide a crate=of--the above described type in which there is provided --means associated with the "end sections, or other supporting members, for folding 1 them inwardly-- between the top and bottom sections whenitis-desired to*fold the crate.

Another-object being-to provi'de a crate-particularly adapted to the transportation of poultry, fowl, and other small animal life which will give a maximum amount of protection and comfort to the animals being transported.

While several objects of the invention have been particularly pointed out, other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the nature of th invention is better understood, which consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the single sheet of drawings and described in the following detail descriptions in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate.

Figure 2 is a side view of the crate in folded position having its end section broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a form of foldable support for the top and bottom members for use with a modified form of crate.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of a corner of the crate showing an alternate fastening means for the door or window member.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified form of the end structure.

In all of the views like characters of reference are employed for designating like parts throughout the several views.

The crate involves in its general organization a top having a frame comprising the members I, l', I", 2 and 2 which may be provided with cross bars 2 to form a grill-like structure for ventilation. However, any well-known structure may be used which will admit air to the top of the crate or coop. The bottom or floor member 3 is constructed of a continuous piece of material, such as plyboard, and is surrounded by a frame 4, A, 4" and 4".

1 Qlaim. (Cl; 217-436) Hinged to the top and bottom frame is a pair 0f foldable end sections. One of these end secends by the tacks 3|.

'tions is best shown in "Figure 1;an'd comprises a" top member l l0,- abottom member Fl!" and 'side members I l, -l l I 2, l 2 and-"center me'mb'ers l3 and I3, and is provided witlrcrossbars 2"ident-ical-with those "shown for the top of the crate. 'The membersll, H', l2, l2, l3-and*l3 are'all of substantially the same length and are "provided with hinges l 5 and I! along a centralhbrizontal i line through the endsectionand-'so "attached-as-to -allow-'the central portion of the -end to befolded inwardly along the longitudinal ce'nter line. The end is-"also' secured tothetop and bottom by similarhingesbestshown on the opposite end" of the crate in'*Figure 1"at l8 andfB' *and m-and-ld atthe top-and ZEandWN-(not shown) and 24 and 24' at the bottom. As both end sections are identical, only one detail description of the ends is set forth. For holding the ends in extended position a retractable bolt, such as that shown at 22, may be secured to one or more of the end members which will operate to hold the members in alignment, and when withdrawn will allow the ends to fold inwardly as previously described.

The side members of the crate are constructed of a fabric material 25, such as canvas, which may be fastened to the top and bottom of the crate by strips 26 and 26 and to the ends by the tacks 21, the height of the canvas being such as to be taut when the end members are extended as shown in Figure 1.

The crate may be provided with a collapsible handle 23 for carrying purposes. One or both of the canvas side members is provided with a window or door 25. The door is provided along its sides with zippers 28 and 28' and across the top is a reinforcing member 29 carried in 2. turnedin portion, or sleeve, adjacent the upper edge 25" of the portion forming the window. The crate is also provided with a door 49 in the top for inserting or removing the animals.

In Figure 4, a modified form of door fastener is shown in which a single fastener 39 at the top and at each end of the window is used instead of the zippers.

Referring to the modified forms of the crate, the end sections may be adapted to carry a canvas cover 3i which may be attached to the The cover is attached to the outside surface of the end and will fold with the end members when they are folded in collapsing the crate.

While the ends are shown as being attached to both the bottom and top by the hinges l8, i8, 24 and 24, the end may be made in one piece and hinged only at either the top or bottom in such a manner that they may be swung inwardly. In this arrangement, the canvas sides may be either attached to the end framing itself, as previously described, or it may be extended around all four sides being attached to the top and bottom.

In place of the hinged end members, collapsible posts 33 may be hingeably secured to the corners of the top and bottom frame by the members 32' and 32. The post 33 is designed to hinge at a point 33 adjacent the center for allowing the post to fold inwardly between the top and bottom members similar to the present end members. This allows the crate to be folded in substantially the same manner as previously described for the preferred form.

Adjacent the corners and upon the upper surface of the top frame are small knobs or projections 35, 36, 31 and 38 which are receivable Within corresponding recesses such as shown at 39 in Figure 3, for supporting one crate above the other leaving an opening between the crates to insure circulation of air.

The crate is easily and quickly collapsed, enabling a large number of crates to be packed or stored in a comparatively small space when not in use.

When made in the smaller sizes and the side walls are made entirely of canvas as described in the modified form, the crate is particularly adapted to the transportation of game birds and the like in that the canvas side walls are a protection to the birds both from injuries in transportation and against cold and inclement weather.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and only insofar as the invention has been particularly pointed out in the accompanying claim is the same to be limited.

I claim:

In a crate for transporting fowl and other animals comprising an open grilled top and bottom section having a continuous floor surface, both being surrounded by a rigid frame, flexible fiber side sections fastened directly to the frame of the top and bottom sections, foldable supporting members hingeably attached to the rigid frames and to each other, a window in at least one of the fiber side sections and releasable means along only the sides of the window for maintaining the window in closed position and means for reinforcing the window along its top edge.

CHARLES W. GRIFFITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 393,058 Bradford Nov. 20, 1888 700,774 Holmes May 27, 1902 816,801 Kelchner Apr, 3, 1906 941,507 Emert Nov. 30, 1909 1,164,502 Griffith Dec. 14, 1915 1,932,273 Kingsland Oct. 24, 1933 2,332,999 Garvey Oct. 26, 1943 

